The Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations – a summary of the new requirements

|Although still in draft form, the new homecare regulations are due to come into force on July 1. Susan Cowan considers some of the draft regulationsÂ¹ requirements.| The Regulations will apply to any establishment that arranges the provision of personal care for persons in their own homes. The only exception is if the establishment is carried on by an individual who: – is not in partnership with others; – is not employed by an organisation; and – does not employ anyone to work in the establishment (ie where the individual carrying on the establishment performs the personal care services in person). Who can carry on a homecare agency? A homecare agency can only be carried on by a registered person, referred to in the Regulations as the “registered provider”. This person must be “fit” to carry on the agency. The Regulations define a “fit” person as being an individual: – of integrity and good character; – who is physically and mentally fit to carry on the agency; and – in respect of whom “full and satisfactory